To investigate the expression and significance of cell surface receptor signaling lymphocyte activation molecule family member 7 (SLAMF7) in normal intestinal tissues and intestinal inflammatory tissues of mice.

Five C57BL/6J wild-type male mice aged 8-10 weeks were chosen and fed normally. Lamina propria lymphocytes (LPLs) and intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) were extracted, and totalcell RNA was extracted by Trizol reagent. The mRNA expression of SLAMF7 in cells was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Then 10 C57BL/6J wild-type male mice aged 8-10 weeks were randomly divided into control group (n=5) and model group (n=5). The control group was fed with normal drinking water, whereas the model group was fed with 2.5% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) drinking water to establish a model of ulcerative colitis (UC). The mice in both groups were killed on the 5th day. Flow cytometry was used to detect the expression of SLAMF7 in immune cell subpopulations in the control group and the model group.

Compared with colonic IECs, the expression of SLAMF7 was higher in colonic LPLs(P=0.017). After DSS induced enteritis, the expression of SLAMF7 was up-regulated in neutrophils (P=0.001), but had no significant changes in CD4⁺T cells, CD8⁺T cells, CD19⁺B cells, macrophages and conventional dendritic cells(all P > 0.05).

SLAMF7 may play an important role in the occurrence and development of UC through neutrophil-related pathways.